Article March 11, 1985 Issue

"C-A-T" does not spell "DOG"

PATRICIA S. KELSON

One day a group of very young children was learning to read. They were taking each letter of a word individually, and then putting the letters together to make the whole word. One little girl spelled out "C-A-T," and then, with a big smile, complete confidence, and firmness, said, "DOG." She was learning the letters, but not tying them in with the meaning.

Isn't that what we sometimes do? We learn from the Bible that God is L-O-V-E,^{See I John 4:8 .} and claim to worship this God. Then we say, "But I'm cross with my neighbor. He's not very nice. I'm angry with my friend. I resent my employer. I'm sick. I'm tired." We make these statements with complete confidence and firmness, yet they do not follow from our acceptance that God is Love any more than C-A-T spells DOG.

Part of Mrs. Eddy's definition of God in Science and Health reads, "Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love."^{Science and Health, p. 587.} These synonyms are either used directly or implied in the Bible with reference to God. The Bible also declares that there is only one God and states the commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."^{Ex. 20:3.}